It’s pretty obvious where McDermott will struggle at the next level: mainly defense, a lack of athleticism and therefore a question of position. McDermott definitely tries hard defensively but he just doesn’t have the lateral quickness to stay with small forwards and isn’t strong enough to defend power forwards.

Given how much frontcourt bodies make in today’s NBA, it can be reasonably expected that Thompson’s camp (he’s represented by LeBron James’ friend and agent Rich Paul) will be commanding a number that the team may not be willing to match.

I have to remind myself constantly that just because Tristan is a nice fellow doesn’t mean he is a great basketball player.

This play mainly happened because there was no designed backup plan for the pick-and-roll. The PNR was THE play here, and no one else on the floor had any contingency plan for if it didn’t free up Waiters. I should also note that Alonzo Gee’s wide-openness in the corner isn’t really a good contingency plan, because Alonzo Gee.

Trevor’s thoughts about defense:

The Cavs tried to limit looks in the paint as much as they could, and did a decent job at that. However, it resulted in some really poor perimeter play, as the Cavs gave up the most three-point attempts in the league.

Be careful reading this because you may have horrific flashbacks to some moments from this season.

It’s comical to watch the well-intentioned mob circle around Sterling as if his unintended transparency says nothing about his peer group. It’s equally comical seeing this issue framed as a “black issue,” with black people running to suggest ways to clean up Sterling’s mess.

White people should be wearing black socks, turning their T-shirts inside out, protesting outside the Staples Center. This is their culture, their Frankenstein. Or maybe they agree with Donald T. Sterling.

“I don’t want to change the culture because I can’t. It’s too big.”

It’s also too beneficial. It’s too comfortable.

Well-intentioned white people should be holding nationally televised panel discussions focusing on ways to lessen the damaging impact of white-supremacy culture. Well-intentioned white people who work within or support the NBA should be demanding that the NBA power structure cede some of its governing power to men and women who look like the overwhelming majority of the league’s players.

“He didn’t get invited to the Team USA developmenal team for nothin’.”

Knock down shooters with a shorter three point line and wider key who can be hid better in a zone defense are much more ideal in FIBA than the NBA.

If we just want a guy who can hit that open jumper off a pick and roll, we can probably get him for an opportunity cost of a lot less than wherever our #1 ends up. And that guy is probably a good bet to be a much better defender than McDermott.

I don’t know why so many people act like McDermott is some sort of athletic slouch. Is Westbrook gonna blow right by him? Yes, he does that to everyone. Could LBJ back him into the post? Yeah, so what he does that to everyone. If we go down past LBJ, Durant and Melos of the SF world, who’s really that great of an athlete at that position? Almost no one.

I am surprised by the derision that people have for McDermott’s athleticism and defense. Is he worse athletically than Korver? Would you rather have someone who has some limitations athletically but tries 100% on defense or athletically gifted players who don’t try at all on defense which is kind of what the team is composed of at this time. And I agree, what SFs are out there that are so superior athletically that they would be able to get 2.00 PPP against McDermott?

“Even when he’s been outclassed athletically he’s still managed to drop 30 points.”

I think you severely overestimate the difference in athleticism between college and pro players. And it wasn’t just Westbrook blowing by him, or James taking him on the post. It was guys who will never come close to seeing a NBA uniform.

grover – CJ Miles just cost us $4.5M over 2 years. And of course, opportunity cost is more than just salary.

I don’t get it. For two years everybody has been talking about this draft as if it was going to be one of the best drafts ever. Here we are at nine and we have either tweeners, shooters that aren’t athletic and can’t defend, athletes that can’t shoot, and everything in-between.

Yeah . . . we know NOW that there’s a few studs and then it thins out. But I’m telling you, for two years virtually everyone was saying there were up to 20 solid starters coming out this year. I’m even having my doubts about Wiggins. He looks more like McLemore than LeBron to me – and he’s still at the top of the list.

I know people have been saying all along that guys are coming out too young – and they’re right. All these guys have an attribute or two that catches your eye, but when you take their whole game and their lack of physical maturity you just have to think that they’ll all get hammered in the pros. UCLA’s Anderson certainly has some intriguing qualities, but he’s less ready to play against pros than Otto Porter was. It’s a crapshoot because you can’t tell who’s going to “get there” at such a young age.

I think a guy like Kyle Anderson could be very good in the league but not in Cleveland. I felt this way about Bennett, really liked him but not a great fit for us… Do we really need another ball dominant creator? No. No we don’t.

@Jon shut up dude seriously. We are comparing them because they are both taller guys who can hit the 3 at a REALLY good clip and who’s flaws are on the defensive end. The fact that they look like they could be brothers is just a coincidence. If he a 3 inches taller and skinny we’d be comparing him to KD.

The Lineup: (Click for Author’s Archive)

Nate Smith is an Associate Editor. He grew up in Anchorage, Alaska, and moved to NE Ohio in 2000. He adopted the Cavs in 2003 and graduated from Kent State in 2009 with a BA in English. He can be contacted at oldseaminer@gmail.com or @oldseaminer on Twitter.

Tom Pestak is an Associate Editor. He's from the west side of Cleveland and lives and (mostly) dies by the success and (mostly) failures of his beloved teams. You can watch his fanaticism during Cavs games @tompestak.

Robert Attenweiler is a Staff Writer. Originally from OH, he's long made his home in NYC where he writes plays and screenplays (www.disgracedproductions.com) some of which end up being about Ohio, basketball or both. He has also written for The Classical and the blog Raising the Cadavalier. You can contact him at rattenweiler@gmail.com or @cadavalier.

Benjamin Werth is a Staff Writer. He was born in Cleveland and raised in Mentor, OH. He now lives in Germany where he is an opera singer and actor. He can be reached at blfwerth@gmail.com.

Cory Hughey is a Staff Writer. He grew up in Youngstown, the Gary, Indiana of Ohio. He graduated from Youngstown State in 2008 with a worthless telecommunications degree. He can be contacted at theleperfromwatts@yahoo.com or @coryhughey on Twitter.

David Wood is our Links Editor. He is a 2012 Graduate of Syracuse University with an English degree who loves bikes, beer, basketball, writing, and Rimbaud. He can be reached on Twitter: @nothingwood.

Mallory Factor is the voice of Cavs: The Podcast. By day Mallory works in fundraising and by night he runs a music business company. To see his music endeavors check out www.fivetracks.com. Hit him up at Malloryfactorii@gmail.com or @Malfii.

John Krolik is the Editor Emeritus of Cavs: The Blog. At present, he is pursuing a law degree at Tulane University. You can contact him at johnkrolik@gmail.com or @johnkrolik.

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